Kot (pictured) is stepping down as eOne Television's senior VP of factual entertainment to launch a TV production venture that will focus on factual entertainment for world markets.

eOne Television’s senior VP of factual entertainment Michael Kot (pictured) is departing the company to launch new TV production venture, Saloon Media.

Saloon Media will focus on factual entertainment for world markets with production partners in Canada, the UK and U.S. to be “a provider of popular returnable series and high impact-specials,” according to eOne, which has inked a two-year overall deal with Kot’s newly-launched venture.

Kot joined eOne Television in 2010, where he was charged with leading its factual division’s growth. He oversaw series including D-Day to Victory, Sugar Stars, Storming Juno and Mega Builders.

He will continue to serve as executive producer on eOne’s upcoming factual projects, including Martian Invasions, Korea Hill, Dangerous Persuasions/Brainwashed and Perfect Storms.

Prior to joining eOne, Kot was VP of original factual content for Canwest channels including Global Television, History Television, Mystery, National Geographic Canada and IFC. He was also responsible for acquisitions and general operations at BBC Canada.

Effective March 31 and for an interim period, eOne VP of factual entertainment Loren Mawhinney will take on Kot’s duties.

eOne said it continues to expand its factual and alternative offerings, bolstered by the recent additions of LA-based VP of current programming and development exec Jeff Hevert, and London-based factual acquisitions manager Justina Hemperek.

TAGS:

About The Author

Daniele Alcinii is a news editor at realscreen, the leading international publisher of non-fiction film and television industry news and content. He joined the RS team in 2015 with experience in journalism following a stint out west with Sun Media in Edmonton's Capital Region, and with communications work in Melbourne, Australia and Toronto. You can follow him on Twitter at @danielealcinii.